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Apple Exchanging Some 2012 and Early 2013 MacBook Pros Needing Battery Service With Newer Models [Updated]
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just got back from there, I was bounced off by a service guy with an appointment for next week tuesday .. I severely hope this deal doesn't end by then. but then again, the lack of hardware supply causes it, so hopefully it will still be actual by then.Keeping fingers crossed for youI have an appointment there on Sat.
my machine definitely qualifies, mid-2012 with 937 cycles, display panel already replaced once because of the image retention issue.
Sounds like someone does not have a laptop that qualifies, however, if you did you would be singing a different tune. Be happy for people, envy is an evil thing and will only make your life miserable.
Sweet - congratulations!
Can you clarify with more details? I'd like to know this too.
Also, did they have to get your password or anything to check the battery? I would like to not have to wipe my machine just to check on the replacement.
Not the battery replacement program itself, but the replacement of the entire MacBook with a newer model, vs. making the customer wait or whatever, which per the story appears to be at the discretion of the genius / store. I would think if it's obvious in any way that you've purposefully cycled the battery from 100 to 0 over and over constantly for the past x weeks because you heard you might get a free upgrade, they'll see right through it and use their discretion to er.. not give you one!
Either that, or the people inevitably abusing the system in such a way will ruin it for everyone and they'll just stop with the upgraded hardware completely.
He had me shut down my computer and he did the battery test. As he was pulling up the info on his iPad about the battery replacement, I could see that it said that the part was out of stock. He read more information, and I think saw something about the program. He went in back to speak with someone about it, and came back telling me my 2 options were to wait until mid-September to get a free battery replacement, or pay the $199 for the battery and get a 2015 refurbished system. I obviously took the latter, knowing that it has a good chance of being even newer.
What did they say when you went in? Did they immediately say they need to replace rather than fix the battery?
edit: sorry saw your other post. Nice
hmm why ? I mean what reason did he say to delay u for 1 week ?
Sounds strange.
I will go tomorrow. They won't get rid of me that quick ... takes me 2 hours to get to that store.
Do you have an appointment? Some stores are ridiculously busy and you shouldn't go without an appointment. I got a Thursday appointment which was the earliest available for my store.
Some stores will allow stand bys and others will tell you not to bother and to schedule an appointment for you later.
the guy told me a 'genius' has to check it, and he was just a regular service guy. he walkietalkied to the genius guy, and he told me to get an appointment. I think you better make a phone call before you waste your time with the travel.
I went in to an Apple store myself. I opted for the replacement, though the genius made me write down my CC and shipping details.
I walked out with no confirmation, and no e-mail or whatsoever. Did anyone have a similar experience? How can I know this actually is being processed? Let alone check the status of the procedure.
I walked out with no confirmation, and no e-mail or whatsoever. Did anyone have a similar experience? How can I know this actually is being processed? Let alone check the status of the procedure.
I would not want my early 2014 MBP to be replaced by a 2017 MBP with touch bar. Why? Because I like the keyboard and actual ports. I'm not giving this thing up until it dies and even then, I may just choose to repair it.
Actually you were supposed to get an email from Apple under the name of 'your apple store work autorization'
you've got a point there. however, replacing a 2012 model to a 2017 one for a handful of money is a good deal. and if it's not an actual 2017 model, I get a newer one and still can enjoy the ports I need.
either way it's a good deal for me.
Did they say if you'd have an option to approve or deny the device they'd replace it with? Lets say they offer 2017 Macbook Pro w/ Touchbar instead of refurb 2015 Macbook Pro. I am a heavy USB user and would find the refurb 2015 body much more useful then the latest and greatest.
No clue - but I don't really care... Newer is better as far as I'm concerned. I'll have to adapt eventually.
After hundreds of charging cycles, a MacBook Pro's battery begins to lose its ability to hold a charge and should be replaced. Apple offers battery service free of charge with AppleCare+ coverage, or it charges an out-of-warranty fee of $199 in the United States, £199 in the UK, or $259 in Canada.
Due to a severe constraint of top case assemblies with glued-in batteries, however, Apple has informed its Genius Bar employees and Apple Authorized Service Providers it is currently unable to service the batteries of 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display models released in Mid 2012 and Early 2013.
According to Apple's internal directive, obtained by MacRumors, top case assemblies with batteries for the aforementioned MacBook Pro models will remain severely constrained until September 15, 2017. The directive does not identify a reason for the shortage, which has been ongoing since at least March.
As a temporary solution, Apple's directive says customers may choose to delay battery service until inventory becomes available, in exchange for Apple covering the cost of the repair. Alternatively, to avoid the delay, Apple's directive says customers may exchange the MacBook Pro for a functionally equivalent model.
Given the affected MacBook Pro models were released between four and five years ago, however, an increasing number of customers have shared stories of Apple replacing their notebooks with significantly newer models.
Reddit user NoTNoS, for example, said Apple exchanged his 2012 model 15-inch MacBook Pro for a 2017 model 15-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar. He said the process took about 10 business days, and he was allowed to keep his old MacBook Pro during the wait. The only cost was the $199 battery service fee.
Dozens of other MacBook Pro owners have shared similar experiences on Reddit, while only a handful of users have shared unsuccessful attempts. Many users appear to have received refurbished 2015 MacBook Pro models, but some others claim to have received even newer 2016 or 2017 models.
In order to potentially qualify, you must have a Mid 2012 or Early 2013 model 15-inch MacBook Pro with a Retina display. The policy doesn't apply to any 13-inch MacBook Pro, any Late 2011 or older MacBook Pro, any Late 2013 or newer MacBook Pro, any MacBook Pro without a Retina display, or any MacBook Air.
Secondly, the MacBook Pro must be in need of battery service. To check, click on the Apple logo in the top-left corner of the macOS menu bar, and then click on About This Mac > System Report... > Power. Under the "Health Information" section, the condition should say "Service Battery" or an equivalent status.
As a rule of thumb, the battery should typically have a full charge capacity below 80 percent, which can be estimated with a tool like coconutBattery. The battery's charge cycle count may also be a factor. Only Apple's diagnostic test will ultimately determine if the battery requires servicing.
Since the process appears to differ on a case-by-case basis, each customer's mileage may vary. Apple could stop acknowledging this internal policy at any time, and not all employees may be aware it exists.
There doesn't appear to be any regional limitations to the policy, with customers who successfully exchanged their MacBook Pro models residing in the United States, UK, Canada, Brazil, Spain, Australia, and other countries. It also doesn't appear to matter if the Mac is covered by AppleCare+ to qualify.
Eligible customers that wish to press their luck may visit any Apple Store, or supposedly select Apple Authorized Service Providers. Booking a Genius Bar appointment through the Apple Support website is recommended.
Article Link: Apple Exchanging Some 2012 and Early 2013 MacBook Pros Needing Battery Service With Newer Models
Hey - think my message slipped through un noticed on the bottom of a page. Have an appointment booked for Saturday so will let you know how I get on!
KG
Received a 2017 rMBP with Touchbar for my mid 2012 rMBP earlier this month. Thanks Apple! I brought my old computer in to have them replace the battery and the screen (Apple is replacing the antireflective coated screens that started to deteriorate). If your battery is not completely shot, maybe the display issue coupled puts you "over the edge"? I had the fully loaded 2012 rMBP, which was hard to come by in a refurbished 2015 (they promise same for same). I also asked the genius bar folks about I/O and they gave me free dongles so I wouldn't have to spend a fortune to continue operating with my current peripherals.